Baby Names from the Mahabharata That Are Still Popular Today

Why Mahābhārata names remain widely used

The Mahābhārata is not only a grand epic but a living cultural resource: it supplies stories, moral dilemmas and heroic archetypes that many families draw on when naming children. Names from the epic carry meanings (often in Sanskrit) and associations with virtues such as courage, loyalty, learning and devotion — or with complex moral situations that invite reflection rather than simple praise.

Several reasons explain the continuing popularity of these names:

• Cultural familiarity: Characters like Arjuna and Krishna are taught in schools, retold at festivals, and appear in popular media, making the names widely recognisable.
• Value-laden meanings: Sanskrit names commonly express qualities parents hope for in a child — e.g., truthfulness, strength, steadiness.
• Religious and devotional links: Some names (Krishna, Subhadra) are also names of deities or associated with devotional traditions, so naming can be an expression of bhakti — devotion.
• Regional and modern variants: Many names have shorter, colloquial forms (Arjun, Karan) or local pronunciations that fit contemporary tastes.

Popular Mahābhārata names in use today

Below is a selection of names commonly heard in India today. Each entry gives a brief meaning, the character’s role in the epic, and a note on modern usage or sensitivities. Sanskrit terms used here are briefly glossed on first use: dharma — ethical duty; bhakti — devotion.

For boys

• Arjun / Arjuna — “bright, clear.” One of the five Pandava brothers and the principal warrior who receives the Bhagavad Gītā. Extremely popular across India; modern forms include Arjun, Arjuna.
• Krishna — “dark, all‑attractive.” Although his life extends beyond the Mahābhārata, Krishna is central as Arjuna’s charioteer and guide in the Bhagavad Gītā. One of the most commonly used names across communities and languages, often chosen for devotional reasons.
• Karna / Karan — literal root can relate to “ear,” but in the epic he is celebrated for generosity and martial skill while also being morally complicated. Karan/Karna is widely used; many admire him for loyalty and magnanimity despite controversial affiliations.
• Bhīma / Bheem — “terrible, mighty.” The physically powerful Pandava brother known for strength and straightforwardness. Bheem/Bhima is prevalent in many regions and popularised further by folk tales and children’s media.
• Abhimanyu — “heroic, self‑confident.” Son of Arjuna who dies young in the Chakravyuha episode. The name is favoured for its connotations of bravery and sacrifice.
• Yudhisthira — “steady in war” or “one who holds to dharma.” The eldest Pandava, noted for his commitment to righteousness though also criticised in some readings for passivity. Used more rarely but respected for its moral implication.
• Nakula, Sahadeva — names of the twin Pandava brothers. Nakula often chosen in western and northern India; Sahadeva used regionally and admired for scholarship and calm.
• Vidura — “skilled, wise.” Advisor in the court, noted for moral clarity and prudent counsel. Used by families seeking a name associated with wisdom and integrity.

For girls

• Draupadī / Draupadi — name of the Pandavas’ shared wife, born of fire. Associated with dignity, resilience and complex debates about honour and justice. The name is powerful and historically resonant; usage varies by family preference.
• Subhadrā / Subhadra — “auspicious, good.” Sister of Krishna, wife of Arjuna and mother of Abhimanyu. A commonly used name in many communities, appreciated for its gentle meaning.
• Kuntī — mother of the Pandavas, admired for endurance and maternal sacrifice. Used in literary and traditional contexts; as a given name it carries strong familial associations.
• Uttarā / Uttara — “upper, later.” Daughter of King Virāta and wife of Abhimanyu; a well‑established modern name across regions, valued for its simplicity and classical roots.
• Satyavatī — “truthful.” Ancestress in the epic whose marriage shapes royal succession. Less common in everyday use but respected for its historical significance.
• Ganga — name of the river goddess and mother of Bhishma. Widely used as a devotional and cultural name, invoking auspiciousness and purification.
• Shikhandī / Shikhandi — a complex figure whose gender transformation plays a role in Bhīma’s defeat of Bhishma in some retellings. In contemporary usage, the name can carry layered meanings and should be chosen with sensitivity to gender histories and local connotations.

Choosing a Mahābhārata name: context and caveats

When families pick names from the epic, they often emphasize particular virtues and stories while downplaying complex or problematic aspects. That selective emphasis is part of how tradition works: characters are read for the qualities parents wish to invoke. Scholars and religious teachers, across Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta and Smārta contexts, also debate these readings — for example, whether Bhīma’s straightforwardness or Yudhisthira’s commitment to dharma should be held up as an ideal.

Practical notes:

• Consider regional pronunciations and short forms — Arjun, Karan, Subhadra often appear in slightly different spellings or nicknames.
• Be mindful of caste, sect or community associations some names may carry in local contexts.
• If the name involves a sensitive narrative (for instance, Shikhandī), discuss familial and social meanings openly.

Final thought

Names from the Mahābhārata remain popular because they are both evocative and adaptable: they can express devotion, aspiration or cultural memory. They invite families to place a child within a long story of duty, conflict and moral questioning — a literary and spiritual inheritance that is still being read, debated and lived across India today.